Door casing assembly

ABSTRACT

An extruded metal jamb of a door casing is formed with a channel shaped elongated support member having a pair of laterally spaced and longitudinally extending guides. A plurality of hinge leaf mounting plates are slidably mounted to the channel guides for longitudinal adjustment relative to each other and to the door jamb so that hinge leaves may be fixed to the mounting plates and the assembly of hinge leaf and mounting plate fixedly secured to the jamb. The adjustable mounting of the hingeleaves to the jamb enables much simplified installation of a door having factory mortised hinge leaves. The extruded jamb section is formed with longitudinally extending laterally spaced slots for ready securement of either a cover or a strike plate or both, so that the jamb is readily applicable to either side of the door opening. Several types of adjustable hinge leaf mounting plates and cover sections are shown.

United States Patent Cole et a1.

DOOR CASING ASSEMBLY David B. Cole, Irvine; Joseph E. Dean, Glendora,both of Calif.

Modulex, Inc., Orange, Calif.

July 8, 1971 Inventors:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

US. Cl. 49/504, 16/130 Int. Cl. E06b 1/04 Field of Search 49/399, 400,401,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Nov. 27, 1973 PrimaryExaminerKenneth Downey Attorney-Causewitz, Carr & Rothenberg [5 7]ABSTRACT An extruded metal jamb of a door casing is formed with achannel shaped elongated support member having a pair of laterallyspaced and longitudinally extending guides. A plurality of hinge leafmounting plates are slidably mounted to the channel guides forlongitudinal adjustment relative to each other and to the door jamb sothat hinge leaves may be fixed to the mounting plates and the assemblyof hinge leaf and mounting plate fixedly secured to the jamb. Theadjustable mounting of the hingeleaves to the jamb enables muchsimplified installation of a door having factory mortised hinge leaves.The extruded jamb section is formed with longitudinally extendinglaterally spaced slots for ready securement of either a cover or astrike plate or both, so that the jamb is readily applicable to eitherside of the door opening. Several types of adjustable hinge leafmounting plates and cover sections are shown.

14 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Patented Nov. 27, 1973 3,774,345

I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. 0/2140 5. 5045 j 1055 .5 054m Patented Nov.27, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet flee 6.

fie: 4.

INVENTORS DAV/D 51 (045 .1055 PH E. 054W Patented Nov. 27, 19733,774,345

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I z/kg DOOR CASING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates todoor casing assemblies and more particularly concerns a casing thatenables simple and adjustable mounting of hinge leaves.

2. Description of Prior Art Hinge leaves as employed in mounting of adoor to a door jamb, are generally mortised into the door and jambrespectively so that the edge surface of the door and the facing surfaceof the jamb each presents a smooth substantially unbroken continuoussurface that is co-planar with the exposed hinge leaf surfaces. Thelocation and formation of the several mortises is a precision operationand, when performed by hand, requires a skilled and experiencedcraftsman. To minimize hand labor involved in the mortising of doors andjarnbs, it is desirable to form the mortises, to as great an extent aspossible, by machine or in the factory. However, because of variationsin casing and door dimensions, and sagging and other variations inherentin building construction, together with the precision alignment requiredof mortises formed in the door and the jamb, it is not practical tofactory mortise both the door and the jamb. In particular, where theparts are mass produced and three or more hinges are employed for asingle door, alignment problems are a major reason for the commonpractice of factory mortising only one of the door and jamb parts.

In a common steel-door casing the jamb is factory formed with a doorstop and hinge leaf mortises. For installation of the door, the positionof the door edge mortises are determined from the jamb mortises afterthe jamb has been installed. Therefore the door mortises are necessarilycut in the field, on the job. An opposite arrangement that employsfactory mortised doors is common in the use of extruded metal doorcasings, such as the casings shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,910,154 to Hammitet a1. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,287,856 to A. E. Passovoy. In the arrangementof Hammit et al a cover plate for the door jamb is cut away at thosepoints where the hinges are to be located so as to provide a recess forthe hinge leaf that is secured to the jamb. This positioning and cuttingof the cover undesirably and unnecessarily extends the time and effortfor installation. Where the arrangement is employed with a factorymortised door the jamb hinge leaf must be carefully positioned and theholes for securement thereof must be made on the job.

The arrangement of the Passovoy patent enables use of factory mortiseddoors with an extruded metal casing that requires no field mortising,but which nevertheless, provides a smooth and aesthetic jamb face.Passovoy employs snap-on cover members extending between and flush withouter jamb hinge leaf surfaces to achieve the desired effect.Nevertheless, the arrangement of Passovoy still requires carefullocation of jamb hinge leaf mounting holeson the job. Neither in thePassovoy arrangement, nor in any other prior art known to applicant isthere provided any adjustability of a hinge mounting to facilitate onthe job adjustable assembly without mortising.

Not only would adjustable mounting of the jamb hinge leaf facilitateinitial installation but it would permit ready and simplified rehangingof a door as may be required due to wear, sag or minor building damage.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a doorcasing assembly that permits adjustable hinge leaf mounting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In carrying out principles of the presentinvention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, a doorcasing jamb includes a portion forming an elongated support member towhich a plurality of hinge leaf mounting plates are secured forlongitudinal adjustment relative to the jamb and relative to each other.Means are provided to secure hinge leaves to the respective mountingplates and to lock the several assemblies of leaf and mounting plate tothe jamb in a desired adjusted position. The support member is providedwith means for attachment of a longitudinally extending cover so as toprovide a smooth substantially continuous jamb surface in closeproximity and parallel to the edge of the door when the latter isclosed.

' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustrationof a casing and door constructed in accordance with principles of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly exploded view of a jamb, hinge leaf and cover of apreferred form of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross section of the door jamb of FIG. 2 showing the jambhinge leaf in position and showing in phantom lines a part of the doorsecured thereto;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the hinge leaf mounting plate of FIG. 3 showingan attached hinge leaf in phantom 9 showing an attached hinge leaf inphantom lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As illustrated in FIG. 1 a wall 10 has an openingtherein to which is affixed a door casing comprising a head section vl2,a first jamb 14 and a second jamb 16. A door l8is pivoted to jamb 16 bymeans of hinges 20, 24, which are conventional hinges in any suitablenumber and position. A door knob 26 operates a bolt (not shown) that isarranged to engage a strike plate 30 that is fixed to the door jamb 14to retain the door in closed position. v

As readily seen and as well known, both leaves of each of the hinges aremortised into the respective door and jamb surface or otherwise mountedso that the outer surface of each hinge leaf is substantially coplanarwith the surface of the member to which it is patent to Passovoy.However, when such factory mortised doors are employed, the positionofjamb mortises and jamb hinge leaf mounting holes cannot be determineduntil the door has been matched to the jamb on the job, afterinstallation of the jamb. Even though arrangements such as shown byPassovoy avoid the need for forming the mortise on the job, majorinstallation problems are still presented by the required precisionpositioning of jamb hinge leaf mounting holes. Should one or more ofthese holes be initially positioned in error, it may be difficult, ifnot impossible to reposition them to correct the error, particularlywhere the error is in the order of the diameter of the hinge leafmounting screw. The present invention provides an arrangement foradjustably mounting such jamb hinge leaves and thus eliminates thisdifficulty.

Even though the present invention has been initially adapted for usewith an extruded relatively soft metal door casing of the type shown inthe Passovoy patent it will be readily appreciated that the severalembodiments of adjustable hinge mounting to be described may be readilyapplied to other extruded jamb sections and to other casingconstructions, including those fab ricated of interconnected, orotherwise formed steel parts.

Illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 is the jamb 16 to which the hinge leavesare mounted. It will be readily apparent as the description proceeds,that the extruded jamb section 16 is identical with, and fully andcompletely interchangeable with the jamb section 14, differing only inthat the latter has the strike 30 secured thereto, whereas the formerhas leaves of hinges 20 and 24 secured thereto.

Jamb 16, in cross-section, includes first and second side portions 32,34 that are adapted to extend along the sides of the wall in which thedoor opening is formed and to be fixedly secured to the wall. Extendingacross the jamb from side portion 32 toward side portion 34, for a majorportion of the width of the jamb, is a jamb facing panel 36 in which isformed a trough 38 having notches 39 and 40 that receive and retainprojecting flanges of a resilient bumper cushion or door stop 41 thatextends the length of the jamb to provide a close fit against the doorsurface when the door is closed. Bumper cushion 41 may be replaced withsimilar cushions having a dimension as measured normal to the surface ofthe closed door, greater or smaller than that illustrated in thedrawing, so as to properly accommodate doors of lesser or greaterthickness Extending from the trough 38 is a support member particularlyarranged to carry the jamb hinge leaves, cover members, or a strikeplate as will be more particularly described. In the illustratedembodiment the support member takes the form of a channel 42 havingfirst and second side members 44, 46 that extend inwardly of the jambsection (in the plane of the doorway) for connection to a channel web48. Side members 44 and 46 each have a respective shoulder 50, 52projecting inwardly of the channel toward the other side member tothereby form, together with the web 48, first and seclying in a planethat is contiguous with the inner surface 64 of a hinge leaf 66'that isto be fixed to the jamb l6.

Jamb sides 32, 34 are provided with outwardly projecting connection dogssuch as shown at 31, 33 to which a garnish strip 35 may be snapped foraesthetics.

It will be understood that in the preferred embodiment jamb 16 is analuminum extrusion, wherefore the illustration of FIG. 3 depicts thecross-section of the jamb at any point throughout its length. Thus, allof the described elements, the section side portions 32, 34, the facingpanel 36, trough 38, door stop or bumper cushion 41, support member orchannel 42, together with all of the portions thereof and the connectingdogs are all elongated elements, continuous throughout the entire lengthof the jamb, and all formed as a single integral extrusion.

In order to provide an adjustable support and mounting for the hingeleaf 66 a plurality of hinge leaf mounting plates are adjustably mountedto and within the channel 42. One such hinge leaf mounting plate isprovided for each hinge leaf that is to be attached to the jamb. Thus,for the door assembly illustrated in FIG. 1, two such hinge leafmounting plates, each identical to each of the others, it is adjustablymounted within the jamb 16. Thus, a description of one of the mountingplates will suffice to fully describe each of the mounting plates.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, each mounting plate has a length in thedirection of the extent of the door jamb somewhat greater thancorresponding dimension of the hinge leaf, but only a small fraction ofthe length of the jamb. Each plate has a cross section in thisembodiment as shown in FIG. 3. Mounting plate 65 of FIG. 3, includes abody portion 68 that extends entirely across the width of the channelbetween dogs 58 and 60. A pair of integral outwardly extending flanges70, 72 are fixedly carried by, but spaced inwardly of the body portion68, so that the latter is positioned considerably closer to the hingeleaves. Each of the flanges 70, 72 extends into and is captured within arespective one of the guides 54, 56 that are formed in the supportmember between the channel web 48 and the respective shoulders 50, 52..The several parts are dimensioned so that the mounting plate is aclose, but sliding fit within the channel 42.

A plurality of hinge leaf mounting holes are formed in body portion 68of the mounting plate. These holes will provide at least one group ofholes to match holes formed in the hinge leaf to be mounted thereto.Conveniently, several different groups of holes are preformed within thebody of mounting plate 65, so that any one of a number of hinge leavesof different size hinges may be readily secured thereto. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 4, the four holes labeled A may be employed formounting hinge leaves of a first group of sizes. The four holes labeledB may be employed for mounting hinge leaves of a second group of sizesand the four holes labeled C may be employed for mounting hinge leavesof a third group of sizes. Conveniently, certain ones of the holes maybe employed for different size groups, as indicated by the holes labeledAB and BC.

Conventional hinge leaf mounting screws such as the pair designated 74,76 in FIG. 3 extend through the hinge leaf 66 into a matching set ofholes in body 68 of the mounting plate 65. Conveniently the holes inmounting plate 65 are not threaded, wherefore the screws 74, 76 are selfthreading. It will be readily appreciated that the holes in the mountingplate may be tapped, wherefore the threaded fasteners 74, 76 need not beof the self threading variety.

For installation of the hinge leaf 66 and other leaves of a set ofhinges that mount a given door, each of the group of mounting plates 65captured within the channel 42 before it is erected, will have a matinghinge leaf, such as leaf 66, relatively loosely secured thereto by oneor more of its fasteners 74, 76. The desired position of the jamb hingeleaves is then determined from comparison with, or measurement from theposition of the factory mortised door hinge leaves. The assembly ofmounting plate 65 and relatively loosely attached leaf 66 is properlypositioned and fasteners 74, 76 tightened to securely lock the jambhinge leaves to the jamb.

Fasteners 74, 76 perform a dual function, acting both to securely attachthe hinge leaf to the mounting plate and to securely lock the mountingplate to the channel 42. As the fasteners 74, 76 are tightened, hingeleaf 66 and mounting plate 65 are drawn toward each other. Hinge leaf 66has its surface 64 tightly abutting the three co-planar bearing surfaces61, 62, 63 of the channel side members. Surfaces 71, 73 of the uppersurfaces in the illustration of FIG. 3 of mounting plate flanges 70, 72are drawn tightly against the facing surfaces of shoulders 52, 50 as thefasteners are tightened. Preferably, surfaces 71, 73 are roughened, orprovided with both longitudinal and transverse scoring. The facingsurfaces of shoulders 50, 52 are likewise roughened or provided withlongitudinal scoring (in the course of the extrusion process) to enhancethe securement of the mounting plate to the support member or channel 42when the hinge leaf fasteners 74, 76 are tightened.

To prevent insertion of the mounting plate 65 in reverse position, andto thus insure proper position and orientation of the preformed holepatterns of the mounting plates, the latter are made longitudinallyasymmetrical relative to the channel 42. Thus, flange 72 is considerablywider than flange 70 so as to prevent reverse insertion of the mountingplate in the two guideways. As best seen in the cross-section of FIG. 3,body 68 overhangs the wider flange 72 to facilitate location of thefastener holes in the plate.

If deemed necessary or desirable, other fasteners may be insertedthrough one or more of the unused holes in mounting plate 65 and intoengagement with the channel web 48 to further enhance attachment of themounting plate to the jamb. Alternatively, holes may be formed in flange72 and one or more of screws 74, 76 may be made long enough to extendpast or through the flanges 71, 72 into threaded holes formed in web 48.In any event, the on-the-job mounting of the jamb hinge leaf in aprecisely determined position, is greatly facilitated. Should adjustmentbe necessary either because of error in the initial mounting or becauseof subsequent wear or sag, it is a relatively simple matter toaccomplish. It is only necessary to loosen fasteners 74, 76 to therebyfree the mounting plate 65 for longitudinal adjustment relative tochannel 42, move the mounting plate, together with the hinge plateattached thereto, to the new position, and then retighten and resecurethe fastening-means 74, 76. Note that eventhough the repositioning ofthe hinge leaf 66 requires movement equal to or less than one diameterof the fasteners 74, 76 the adjustment may be readily accomplished. Thedescribed arrangement has avoided the problem that is commonly facedwhen a second hole has to be drilled closely adjacent or intersecting anexisting hole. The slidable mounting provides unlimited adjustabilitywithout forming any new holes.

The mounting plate 65 is laterally proportioned so as to be a snug,sliding fit within channel 42. Accordingly, the preformed hole patternsin the mounting plate 65, will laterally position the hinge leaf that ismounted thereto. Such lateral positioning of a hinge leaf cooperateswith the upstanding portion of side member 44 so that the free edge ofhinge leaf 66 will abut this side member. Accordingly, both the sidemember 44 and the preformed hole pattern of the mounting plate operateto insure proper lateral positioning of the hinge leaf.

A significant advantage of the described arrangement resides in the factthat-mounting holes for the fasteners 74, 76 are all preformed.Conventionally, of course, each hinge leaf has its mounting holes formedduring fabrication. In the present invention, the mounting plate 65 hasits holes preformed during fabrication, so that no holes need be drilledor punched in the field on the job. Obviously, the preforming of hingeleaf mounting holes not only saves time in assembly and mounting of thedoor, but enables assembly with fewer tools.

In a manner analogous to the door frame assembly of the above-identifiedPassovoy patent, a plurality of cover sections 77, 78, and 79 aresecured to the support'member of jamb l6 and positioned so that outersurfaces are flush with the outer surface of the jamb hinge leaves,whereby the outer surface of the jamb that mounts the hinges presents asmooth co-planar and substantially unbroken surface throughout itslength. Each of these cover sections is cut to the desired length from ametal extrusion having a cross section, continuous throughout itslength, of the configuration shown in FIG. 6. Thus, cover section 77,comprises an outer face 82 and a pair of oppositely disposed continuouscover flanges 83, 84 that are received in respective ones of thelaterally spaced channel slots. These laterally spaced slots, extendingfor the full length of the jamb, are formed between side members 44, 46and dogs 58, 60. Each of the cover section flanges 83, 84 is formed withenlargement at its end portion to enable the cover section to beresiliently snapped over and retained by the dogs 58, 60 for attachmentto channel 42. Although one ofthe mounting plates 65 is illustrated inposition in FIG. 6 it will be understood that the attachment of thecover section 77 is in no way dependent upon, and the cover section isin no way connected to, the mounting plates.

As shown in FIG. 5 the identical jamb section, including side portions32, 34, panel face 36 and support member or channel 42 is employed forthe opposite jamb (jamb 14 of FIG. 1). Of course, for jamb 14 to whichno hanges are mounted, no mounting plates, such as plate 65, areprovided. The laterally spaced longitudinally extending channel slotsformed between side members 44 and 46 and dogs 58, 60 are employed tomount a strike plate 85 that is conventionally apertured as at 86 toreceive the door bolt (not shown). Strike plate 85 is formed with a pairof laterally spaced snap flanges 88, 89 that operate just like flanges83, 84 of cover section 77 for securement of the strike plate to thelaterally spaced channel slots.

Another advantage of the described arrangement, where the jamb isemployed for mounting of the strike plate, resides in the fact that thechannel provides a deep unobstructed space between the strike plate 85and the facing portion of the jamb, which in this arrangement is the web48 of channel 42. Thus, the door bolt may readily extend through thestrike plate aperture 86 and well beyond the strike plate withoutencountering any interfering portion of the jamb. l-Ieretofore, it wasrequired to drill a special hole in the jamb to receive the forwardportion of the bolt that protrudes through the strike plate into thejamb, or arrange the assembly so that the bolt would not extend into thejamb (or strike plate) any further than the thickness of the strikeplate.

For assembly of the cover sections and strike plate to the jamb 14, itis merely necessary to snap the properly positioned strike plate intothe laterally spaced slots of side members 44, 46. Thereafter the coversections are cut to the desired length, so as to extend from oppositesides of the strike plate to the corresponding ends of the jamb 14.Again, side garnishing strips such as that illustrated at 90, FIG. 5,may be snapped in place to enhance appearance of the jamb.

Illustrated in FIGS. 7 and Sis a modified jamb section particularlyadapted for an arrangement in which a continuous cover section extendsalong the jamb from top to bottom and entirely overlies the jamb mountedhinge leaves. The jamb of FIGS. 7 and 8, like that previously described,is formed of a metal extrusion having side portions 132, 134 and asupport member or channel 142 formed with side members 144, 146 allconstructed and arranged substantially the same as are the correspondingelements of the jambs illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6. Each of the sidemembers is formed with a shoulder 150, 152 that cooperates with aportion of the facing surface of the web 148 of channel 142 to provide apair of longitudinally extending guideways that are substantiallyidentical in configuration and function to the corresponding guidewaysof the previously described embodiment.

In the arrangement of FIG. 7, the jamb mounted hinge leaf 166 is to bemounted at an angle as shown in order to accommodate the mounting of acover section to be described below. Accordingly, the side members arefonned with hinge leaf abutment surfaces 161, 163 upon which the hingeleaf bears. Surface 161 is formed as the upper end of a dog 158 thatextends outwardly from the free end of shoulder 150. Surface 163 isformed as the upper surface of side member 146.

Adjustably carried within the channel 142 are a plurality of mountingplates such as mounting plate 165, having guide flanges 170, 172 snuglybut slidably mounted within laterally spaced guideways formed betweenweb 148 and the facing surfaces of shoulders 150 p and 152. Mountingplate 165 is formed with a body portion 168 that extends at an anglelaterally across the channel 142 so as to provide a mounting surfacethat is substantially parallel with the inner surface of the hinge leaf166. In the same manner as is described in connection with the mountingplate 65, plate 165 is formed with one or more patterns of hinge leafmounting holes for reception of threaded fasteners 174, 176 thatfunction, as previously described, both. to lock the mounting plate 165in the channel guideways and to securely attach the hinge leaf to themounting plate. Mutually contacting surfaces of flanges 170, 172 andshoulders 151, 152 are roughened or scored to enhance locking of themounting plate to and within the channel.

The jamb section of FIG. 7 is illustrated in FIG. 8 with the coversection attached. In this arrangement, cover section 177 is formed in astrip that need not be cut to accommodate the hinge leaves, since thecover 177 will extend over the outer surface of each of the jamb mountedhinge leaves. The cover section is formed with a pair of laterallyspaced inwardly projecting flanges 183, 184 having enlarged free endsthat cooperate with notches 185, 186 formed in side members 144, 146respectively. Cover section flanges 183, 184 have a lengthsufficient toposition the inner side of the cover at a distance from bearing surface163 that is sufficient to accommodate the hinge leaf between the coversection and bearing surface 163. Flange 183 of the cover section is cutaway for a length and at a location adequate to allow the jamb mountedhinge leaf to protrude through the cover flange.

Although the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 7 are preferred for maximizedstability and firmness of attachment of the mounting plates to the jambsupport memher, it will be readily appreciated that other means ofadjustably securing a hinge leaf mounting plate to the jamb may beemployed. So too, other mounting plate configurations may be used. Forexample, instead of forming the channel with a pair of guideways andproviding guide following flanges on the mounting plate, as-

described in FIG. 3 and FIG. 7, the arrangement of the guide means maybe reversed so that guideways are formed on the mounting plateinterengaging with guide following flanges formed on the channel sidemembers. Arrangements of a pair of laterally spaced interengagingguideways and guide flanges are preferred because of the maximizedlateral stability of the mounting plate attachment to the jamb.

In the described arrangements, particularly where the jamb is formed ofan extruded metal section, it is convenient to make the guiding portionsthat are formed in the jamb seciton to extend for the entire lengththereof. However, although on-thejob adjustment of the hinge leaf is agreat advantage in the hanging of the door, it will be readilyappreciated that such adjustment need provide but a relatively limitedamount of motion longitudinally of the jamb. Ordi- I narily, nominalpositions of all the hinges are predetermined. Accordingly, longitudinaladjustment need be sufficient only to accommodate minor errors inmortise positioning, uneven construction or sagging of the building. Inmost instances, the mounting plate need be capable of no more than atotal of one-half inch of adjustable movement longitudinally of thejamb. Therefore, the guide means need not extend for the entire jamblenght.

Illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 is one such alternative arrangement forlimited adjustment of hinge leaf mounting plate, also showing a modifiedmounting plate configuration. In this embodiment a jamb section includesan elongated support member, or a channel 242 that may be substantiallysimilar in all respects to the channel and jamb section illustrated inFIG. 3. Cover sections and strike plates (not shown) are mounted just asin the above described embodiments. Adjustably mounted to the channel242 is a mounting plate 265 formed with hinge leaf bearing surfaces 261and 263 and a longitudinally extending groove 268. Mounting plate 265includes a pair of laterally spaced channel bearing members 269, 270that bear upon the inner surface of web 248 of channel 242. A pair ofthreaded fasteners, or bolts 249, 250 extend through holes 251, 252formed in the bottom of groove 268 and thence through holes 254, 255formed in the web 248, the latter holes being located to provide anominal positioning of the mounting plate 265.

To provide a limited longitudinal adjustment of mounting plate 265relative to the channel 242, either pair of holes, either the holes 254,255 in web 248 or the holes 251, 252 in mounting plate groove 268, arelongitudinally elongated. The latter is illustrated in FIG. 10.

In mounting of door hinge leaves with the arrangement of FIGS. 9 and 10,the several mounting plates 265 are loosely secured in position to andagainst the channel web 248 by means of bolts 249, 250. The preciseposition of the hinge leaf mounting holes is then determined bymeasurement from or comparison with the door mounted hinge leaves.Mounting plates 265 are then longitudinally adjusted (bolts 249, 250moving in elongated holes 251, 252) as determined from such measurementor comparison. The bolts 249, 250 are then tightened to securely lockthe mounting plate to the channel 242. The hinge leaves are fastened tothe mounting plates 265 by fasteners extending through the leaves andinto a group of hinge leaf mounting holes that have been formed in themounting plate 265 and which extend through the bearing surfaces 261 and263. Preferably the hinge leaf mounting holes in bearing surfaces 261and 263 are preformed and if deemed necessary or desirable tapped in thefactory.

Mounting plate 265 is longer than the hinge leaf 266 so that it mayextend on either side thereof. Holes 251, 252 of the mounting plate maybe located as shown in FIG. so that they are not covered by the mountedhinge leaf. Thus the plate (and hinge leaf) may be readily adjustedafter the leaf has been mounted.

In the arrangement of FIGS. 9 and 10 different sets of fastening meanssecure the mounting plate to the web on the one hand and the hinge leafto the mounting plate on the other hand. Thus with the arrangement ofFIGS. 9 and 10, the hinge leaf bears directly upon the mounting plateand not upon the bearing surfaces of the web (The channels sides areshorter than in the other embodiments). On the other hand, inarrangements previously described and illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7 thehinge leaf bears directly upon surfaces of relatively longer sidemembers of the channel support member and not upon the mounting plate.Obviously either arrangement for providing hinge leaf bearing surfacesmay be employed with any of the arrangements for connecting the mountingplate to the channel support member. Likewise, the mounting plate ofFIGS. 9 and 10 may be readily employed to provide an inclined hinge leafmounting and continuous cover section, such as illustrated in FIGS. 7and 8.

There have been described several different arrangements of door casingassemblies in which the jamb is provided with longitudinally adjustablehinge leaf mounting plates and co-operating cover sections so that hingeleaves may be more readily mounted and accurately positioned on the jobwithout compromising operation or aesthetic appearance of co-planarhinge leaf and jamb surfaces. The described constructions also enhancemounting and operation of the strike plate by affording unobstructedpassage for the door bolt. The provision of preformed patterns of holesin adjustable mounting plates affords a near universal application ofthe jamb sections, avoiding the need to form any hinge mounting holes onthe job.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as givenby way of illustration'and example only, the spirit and scope of thisinvention being limited solely by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A door jamb for adjustably mounting a hinge leaf comprising anelongated channel having a pair of side members extending substantiallyin the direction of the plane of the doorway in which the jamb is to bemounted and a web fixedly interconnecting said side members, each saidside member having a bearing surface lying in a plane that spans saidchannel,

said bearing surfaces being adapted to receive and bear upon the face ofa hinge leaf that is to be mounted to said channel,

each said side member having a shoulder extending inwardly of saidchannel toward the opposite side member, thereby to define a pair ofguideways betweensaid web and surfaces of respective shoulders that facetoward said web,

and

an adjustable mounting plate having first and second laterally extendingflanges slidably mounted within respective ones of said guideways,whereby a hinge leaf may be mounted to said channel in abutment withsaid side member bearing surfaces and may be loosely secured to saidchannel and to said mounting plate by fastening means interconnectingthe hinge leaf and mounting plate, thereby to permit adjustment of bothsaid hinge leaf and mounting plate as a unit along said jamb, andwhereby said hinge leaf may be securely fixed in place to said channelby tightening said fastening means to draw said hinge leaf and mountingplate toward each other so that said mounting plate flanges bear tightlyupon said surfaces of said side member shoulders and lock said mountingplate and hinge leaf to said channel.

2. The door jamb of claim 1 wherein said channel is formed withfirst'and second laterally spaced slots extending outwardly thereof andsubstantially throughout the length thereof, and including an elongatedcover section extending along said jamb,

said cover section having first and second mutually spaced flangesprojecting therefrom and adapted to be snapped into said first andsecond slots, respectively,

said cover section having a transverse extent sufficientto span saidside members and substantially cover the opening in said channel betweensaid side members.

3. The door jamb of claim 9 wherein said channel is formed with firstand second laterally spaced slots opening outwardly thereof andextending substantially throughout the length thereof, and

wherein the jamb is to be employed to mount a strike plate for the latchbolt of a door so that no adjust able mounting plate need be used,

and including a strike plate having an extent transverse to the extentof said channel at least sufficient to span the opening of said channel,

said strike platc including a pair of flanges projecting into respectiveones of said laterally spaced slots for securement of said strike plateto said channel,

said strike plate including an aperture therein for receiving a doorbolt,

said strike plate being positioned relative to said web so that saidstrike plate is spaced from said web by a distance sufficient to receivea portion of a door bolt extending through said strike plate apertureand beyond the strike plate into the channel.

4. The door jamb of claim 1 wherein each of said shoulders extends but arelatively short distance toward the other of the side members andwherein each of said shoulders includes a dog upstanding from the freeend thereof so as to form together with the associated side membersfirst and second laterally spaced outwardly opening slots, and whereinsaid bearing surface of at least one of said side members is formed bythe outer end surface of said dog affixed thereto.

5. The door jamb of claim 4 wherein both of said dogs and one of saidside members have an outer end surface lying in a common plane toprovide said bearing surfaces, and

wherein the other of said side members extends beyond said common planeto provide a stop for firmly positioning a member secured to and acrosssaid channel opening.

6. The door jamb of claim 5 wherein at least one of said shouldersurfaces and the surfaces of said adjustable mounting plate that bearthereon are provided with a surface roughness that helps to restrainrelative sliding motion therebetween when mounting plate flanges arecaused to bear upon said surfaces of said side member shoulders.

7. The door jamb of claim 5 wherein said mounting plate includes a hingeleaf securing portion fixedly connected with said flanges and having asurface facing outwardly of said channel that is spaced from saidchannel web. I

8. The door jamb of claim 7,wherein said hinge leaf securing portion ofsaid adjustable mounting plate has at least one setof apertures formedtherein for receiving threaded fastening members.

9. The door jamb of claim 1 wherein said adjustable mounting plate isformed with a plurality of different sets of apertures for alternativelyreceiving threaded fastening members extending through different sets ofholes in different hinge leaves, whereby said hole patterns may bepreformed in said mounting plate during manufacture of said door jamb,and said mounting plate may be slidably adjusted along said channelduring installation of a door thereto, to properly position andappropriate set of said mounting plate holes so as to enable a hingeleaf to be secured thereto at a position determined by the position of amortise that has previously been formed in a door to be attached to saidhinge leaf.

10. The door jamb of claim 1 wherein said adjustable mounting plate hasa length in the direction of the extent of said door jamb that isconsiderably less than the length of the jamb.

1 l. The door jamb of claim 1 wherein said side member bearing surfaceslie in a plane that extends across said channel at an acute anglerelative to the jamb, and wherein a cover section is attached to andextends along said jamb and overlies a hinge leaf secured to saidmounting plate.

12. A door frame assembly comprising a head section, a first jamb, asecond jamb, means for securing said sections to each other, anadjustable mounting plate, means for adjustably mounting said plate tosaid first jamb, means for securing a hinge leaf to said mounting plate,and means for fixedly connecting said adjustable mounting plate to saidfirst jamb to thereby lock both said adjustable mounting plate and saidhinge leaf attached thereto to said first jamb section, said second jambbeing formed with first and second laterally spaced slots openingoutwardly thereof and extending substantially throughout the lengththereof, and including a strike plate having an extent transverse to theextent of said jamb at least sufficient to span the space between saidslots, said strike plate including a pair of flanges projecting intorespective ones of said laterally spaced slots for securement of saidstrike plate to said jamb, said strike plate including an aperturetherein for receiving a door bolt, said second jamb having an elongatedportion thereof that is laterally positioned in alignment with theaperture of said strike plate and spaced inwardly of said jamb toprovide an unobstructed space between said strike plate and the jamb sothat a door bolt protruding through said strike plate aperture will notimpinge upon said jamb, and a plurality of elongated cover sectionsextending along said second jamb and having a first and second mutuallyspaced flanges projecting therefrom and snapped into said first andsecond slots respectively, said cover sections of said second jambhaving exterior surfaces that are co-planar with the exterior surface ofsaid strike plate to provide a smooth, substantially unbroken exteriorsurface of said second jamb.

13. A door casing jamb comprising an elongated support member extendinglongitudinally on the jamb,

said support member comprising a channel having a pair of continuousside members and a continuous web interconnecting inner ends of the sidemembers,

guide means formedin said channel comprising a pair of laterally spacedinwardly facing continuous guideways formed in said side members,

a hinge leaf mounting plate including means for fixedly securing a hingeleaf thereto, said mounting plate including a guide follower having apair of outwardly facing flanges each slidably extending into arespective one of said guideways,

means for fixedly connecting said mounting plate to said support memberin a desired position of longitudinal adjustment, said last-mentionedmeans comprising means for securing a hinge leaf to said mounting plate,

said channel web being spaced inwardly from the outer edges of the sidemembers thereof for a distance sufficient to receive a door bolt thereinwith- 13 14 out interference with the normal longitudinal travel 14. Thedoor jamb of claim 13 wherein outer surfaces of the bolt, f whereby anapertured Smke plate may be mounted said side rnembers form bearingsurfaces for reacting at any position on said door jamb and the inwardlyspaced web will provide adequate clearance for reception of a door boltthat extends through the leaf moummg P strike plate.

against a hinge plate that is secured to said hinge

1. A door jamb for adjustably mounting a hinge leaf comprising anelongated channel having a pair of side members extending substantiallyin the direction of the plane of the doorway in which the jamb is to bemounted and a web fixedly interconnecting said side members, each saidside member having a bearing surface lying in a plane that spans saidchannel, said bearing surfaces being adapted to receive and bear uponthe face of a hinge leaf that is to be mounted to said channel, eachsaid side member having a shoulder extending inwardly of said channeltoward the opposite side member, thereby to define a pair of guidewaysbetween said web and surfaces of respective shoulders that face towardsaid web, and an adjustable mounting plate having first and secondlaterally extending flanges slidably mounted within respective ones ofsaid guideways, whereby a hinge leaf may be mounted to said channel inabutment with said side member bearing surfaces and may be looselysecured to said channel and to said mounting plate by fastening meansinterconnecting the hinge leaf and mounting plate, thereby to permitadjustment of both said hinge leaf and mounting plate as a unit alongsaid jamb, and whereby said hinge leaf may be securely fixed in place tosaid channel by tightening said fastening means to draw said hinge leafand mounting plate toward each other so that said mounting plate flangesbear tightly upon said surfaces of said side member shoulders and locksaid mounting plate and hinge leaf to said channel.
 2. The door jamb ofclaim 1 wherein said channel is formed with first and second laterallyspaced slots extending outwardly thereof and substantially throughoutthe length thereof, and including an elongated cover section extendingalong said jamb, said cover section having first and second mutuallyspaced flanges projecting therefrom and adapted to be snapped into saidfirst and second slots, respectively, said cover section having atransverse extent sufficient to span said side members and substantiallycover the opening in said channel between said side members.
 3. The doorjamb of claim 9 wherein said channel is formed with first and secondlaterally spaced slots opening outwardly thereof and extendingsubstantially throughout the length thereof, and wherein the jamb is tobe employed to mount a strike plate for the latch bolt of a door so thatno adjustable mounting plate need be used, and including a strike platehaving an extent transverse to the extent of said channel at leastsufficient to span the opening of said channel, said strike plateincluding a pair of flanges projecting into respective ones of saidlaterally spaced slots for securement of said strike plate to saidchannel, said strike plate including an aperture therein for receiving adoor bolt, said strike plate being positioned relative to said web sothat said strike plate is spaced from said web by a distance sufficientto receive a portion of a door bolt extendIng through said strike plateaperture and beyond the strike plate into the channel.
 4. The door jambof claim 1 wherein each of said shoulders extends but a relatively shortdistance toward the other of the side members and wherein each of saidshoulders includes a dog upstanding from the free end thereof so as toform together with the associated side members first and secondlaterally spaced outwardly opening slots, and wherein said bearingsurface of at least one of said side members is formed by the outer endsurface of said dog affixed thereto.
 5. The door jamb of claim 4 whereinboth of said dogs and one of said side members have an outer end surfacelying in a common plane to provide said bearing surfaces, and whereinthe other of said side members extends beyond said common plane toprovide a stop for firmly positioning a member secured to and acrosssaid channel opening.
 6. The door jamb of claim 5 wherein at least oneof said shoulder surfaces and the surfaces of said adjustable mountingplate that bear thereon are provided with a surface roughness that helpsto restrain relative sliding motion therebetween when mounting plateflanges are caused to bear upon said surfaces of said side membershoulders.
 7. The door jamb of claim 5 wherein said mounting plateincludes a hinge leaf securing portion fixedly connected with saidflanges and having a surface facing outwardly of said channel that isspaced from said channel web.
 8. The door jamb of claim 7 wherein saidhinge leaf securing portion of said adjustable mounting plate has atleast one set of apertures formed therein for receiving threadedfastening members.
 9. The door jamb of claim 1 wherein said adjustablemounting plate is formed with a plurality of different sets of aperturesfor alternatively receiving threaded fastening members extending throughdifferent sets of holes in different hinge leaves, whereby said holepatterns may be preformed in said mounting plate during manufacture ofsaid door jamb, and said mounting plate may be slidably adjusted alongsaid channel during installation of a door thereto, to properly positionand appropriate set of said mounting plate holes so as to enable a hingeleaf to be secured thereto at a position determined by the position of amortise that has previously been formed in a door to be attached to saidhinge leaf.
 10. The door jamb of claim 1 wherein said adjustablemounting plate has a length in the direction of the extent of said doorjamb that is considerably less than the length of the jamb.
 11. The doorjamb of claim 1 wherein said side member bearing surfaces lie in a planethat extends across said channel at an acute angle relative to the jamb,and wherein a cover section is attached to and extends along said jamband overlies a hinge leaf secured to said mounting plate.
 12. A doorframe assembly comprising a head section, a first jamb, a second jamb,means for securing said sections to each other, an adjustable mountingplate, means for adjustably mounting said plate to said first jamb,means for securing a hinge leaf to said mounting plate, and means forfixedly connecting said adjustable mounting plate to said first jamb tothereby lock both said adjustable mounting plate and said hinge leafattached thereto to said first jamb section, said second jamb beingformed with first and second laterally spaced slots opening outwardlythereof and extending substantially throughout the length thereof, andincluding a strike plate having an extent transverse to the extent ofsaid jamb at least sufficient to span the space between said slots, saidstrike plate including a pair of flanges projecting into respective onesof said laterally spaced slots for securement of said strike plate tosaid jamb, said strike plate including an aperture therein for receivinga door bolt, said second jamb having an elongated portion thereof thatis laterally positioned in alignment with the aperturE of said strikeplate and spaced inwardly of said jamb to provide an unobstructed spacebetween said strike plate and the jamb so that a door bolt protrudingthrough said strike plate aperture will not impinge upon said jamb, anda plurality of elongated cover sections extending along said second jamband having a first and second mutually spaced flanges projectingtherefrom and snapped into said first and second slots respectively,said cover sections of said second jamb having exterior surfaces thatare co-planar with the exterior surface of said strike plate to providea smooth, substantially unbroken exterior surface of said second jamb.13. A door casing jamb comprising an elongated support member extendinglongitudinally on the jamb, said support member comprising a channelhaving a pair of continuous side members and a continuous webinterconnecting inner ends of the side members, guide means formed insaid channel comprising a pair of laterally spaced inwardly facingcontinuous guideways formed in said side members, a hinge leaf mountingplate including means for fixedly securing a hinge leaf thereto, saidmounting plate including a guide follower having a pair of outwardlyfacing flanges each slidably extending into a respective one of saidguideways, means for fixedly connecting said mounting plate to saidsupport member in a desired position of longitudinal adjustment, saidlast-mentioned means comprising means for securing a hinge leaf to saidmounting plate, said channel web being spaced inwardly from the outeredges of the side members thereof for a distance sufficient to receive adoor bolt therein without interference with the normal longitudinaltravel of the bolt, whereby an apertured strike plate may be mounted atany position on said door jamb and the inwardly spaced web will provideadequate clearance for reception of a door bolt that extends through thestrike plate.
 14. The door jamb of claim 13 wherein outer surfaces ofsaid side members form bearing surfaces for reacting against a hingeplate that is secured to said hinge leaf mounting plate.